Step-ladder.



Patented July 13, 1915.

3 SHEETSV-SHEET 1.

I@ y NN w @A i ,i

NNN

IIJIIIIf/IIIII J. PARR.

STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG, 8, I9I4. llGQh @bw/imam@ COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII COI, WASHINGTON, n. cA

J. FAHR.

STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED Aue. 8. I9I4.

l,l46,094 Patented July I3, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET?. Y

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co., WASHINGTON. D. c,

J. FAHR'.

STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED Aue. e, 1914.

1,146,094. Patented July 13, 1915. a sHEETs-sHEET3- z 3 2? L5 f5 D a \`l* i :j g

'u 46 HHN IlIllu.

i Jae/372 27u70:

UNTED STATES! FATENT :rosnrn reim, `or RIVER HOMES, WASHINGTON,

ls'rrre-Liro:oni-t.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it knovvn vthat I, JosErI-i PARK, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at River Homes, in the county of Lincoln and State of Vashington, have invented new `and useful improvements in Step-Ladders, of which .the following is a specification.

This inifention is an improved ambulant step ladder .adapted for use in picking and packing fruit such as apples, peaches or the like .and ,also adapted for .use in house painting and other .analogous purposes and embodying a press for holding .a box while the ,same is ybeing filled with fruit and for pressing down the fruit in .the box and fitting the lcover thereon.

The invention :consists in the construction, .combination `and .arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

in the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation rof a step ladder .constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail plan, showing the press, the standards being indicated in section. Figs. 4: and 5 are detail .sectional views on the planes indicated by the lines a-a land brespectively of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view of the u; per p0rtion of the foldable ladder. Fig; isa detail plan of the box supporting tray. Fig. -8 is a detail perspective view of one, of the triangular .plates employed in .the construction of the foldable ladder.

In accordance with my invention l pro vide an .axle 1 which `has a pair of supporting wheels 2. A pair of bars `3 aresecured to the under side .of the axle at points a suitable distance froin the end of .said bars `and the longer ends of the bars are shaped to form `handles 4:. Standards 5 are secured to the axle and to the bars 3. Cross bars 6 are also secured on the bars 3. Oppositely extending and inclined braces 7 have their lower ends .secured to the cross bars. One pair of standards are connected together by a cross beam 8. One .pair of ybraces 7 `are connected together a cross 'beam 9. An elevated floor or platform 10 is secured on the I,cross beams 8 9 and has a cross beam 11 on its under side at the end .opposite the cross beam 9. The ends of the cross beam project beyond the sides Aof the floor or platform and support running boards 12. Side boards 13 connect the .upper .ends of the Specification 4of Letter-s Patent. i

Patented July 13, 1915.

Application filed August 8, 1914. 4Serial No. 855,758.

standards and `an end board or wall 14: connects oneend of the side boards.

A iixed ladder or ground ladder 15 is provided .which comprises kspaced side bars 16 that aresecuredto the bars 3 and to one of ythe running boards and one of the side boards13. These bars 16 are inclined and extendl below `as well as above Ithe barsy 3 so that their lower ends bear on the ground and serve to hold the bars 3 andthe elevated platform in horizontal position. The steps 17 of the ladder 15 are secured to the inclined bars 16 and one of said steps is also secured on the bars 3.

A pair of substantially semi-circular racks 18 are secured to the standards and'certain of the braces under the elevated platform kand .are provided with notches 19. A foldable ,and shiftable step ladder 20 is mounted `above the platformandcomprises a member 21 and Ya member22. The member 21 comprisesya pair of sidebars which are pivotally mounted on ay pivot rod 24 that extends through the side boards13, the lower ends of said bars 23 "operating in the racks 18 and being provided with guides 25 which bear on the inner sides of said racks. These bars 23are connected togetherby steps 26. Substantially triangular plates 27 are secured on .the ends of the steps and one end of each plate is arranged on the inner side of one ofthe bars 23 and pivoted thereto as at 28. The member 22 comprises a pair of bars '29 which 'are pivotally mounted near their lower ends as at 30 on the inner sides of the side boards 13. The plates 27 are also pivotally secured as at 31 on the inner Vsides of said bars 29. Hence the ladder 20 may be arranged in folded horizontal position within the side Walls 13 and .on the floor or platform as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 or may be arranged in .a vertical position or at .any desiredinclination as shown in full lines in said figure. To secure the ladder in adjusted position I provide the member 20 with a rock shaft 32 which may form the pivot of two of the plates and the ends of which are .outturned to `form rock arms lThese rock arms are .connected -to .bolt rods 34 which operate in suitable guides 35 andvmay be projected from the lower ends of the bars 23ai1d.` engaged With any ofthenotches 19 of the racks 18 as will be understood.

The shorter ends .of the ybars 3 which provpress which 1 willV now describe.

'under side with bars 46-47.

ject from one side of the axle support a box Said ends of the arm 3 support a cross bar 37. A bar 38 is secured at right angles to said bar 37 and at a point to one side the center thereof. A pair of bowed springs 39 are secured near the ends of the bar 37. A presser board 40 is arranged below the frame formed by the bars 3-37-38 and a brace bar 41 and said presser board is connected as at 42 to the ends of the springs 39. Said springs while serving to normally raise the presser board also permit it to be moved downwardly as will be understood. I also provide a pair of vertical rectangular clamping frames 43--44 the inner sides of which are arranged to slide vertically in guides 45 and the clamp ing frame 44 is also pivotally mounted in its guide for angualr movement in a horizontal plane. The presser board is provided on its The lower side of the clamping frame 43 is secured to the bar 46. rlhe clamping frame 44 is pivoted at one side to the bar 47 as at 4S and is arranged to swing below that portion of the presser board which projects beyond said bar 47. A locking rack 49 extends downwardly from the bar 38. On the 'Lipper side of the presser board, at the center thereof, is a bar 50 which has a slot 51. A lever 52 is loosely connected as at 53 under the center of the axle and extends out through the slot 51 and bears on the bar 5() and has a keeper plate 54 which is adapted to engage the locking rack 49. Said lever enables the presser board to be moved downwardly against the tension of its supporting springs so as to draw the clamping frames downwardly and over a box placed on the press as will be understood. Said lever is connected by a link rod 55 to the frame 44 to enable said lever to swing said frame outwardly or inwardly to disengage the same from or disengage the same with one end of a box as will be understood. A box supporting tray 56 is loosely connected as at 57 to the bar 3 nearest the clamping frame 43. This box supporting tray is provided with cleats on its under side and indicated at 58-59 and is cut away at one of its inner corners as at 60 to clear the free side of the clamping' frame 44 (see F ig. 7). On the upper side of said box supporting tray or table is a trough-shaped cleat 61 to engage one of the cleats under the bottom of a packing box for holding fruit and near the opposite end of said tray or table is a cleat 62.

When my step ladder is used in picking fruit from trees and it is desired to pack the fruit in boxes as fast as it is picked one of the fruit boxes will be placed on the tray or table and the lever will be operated to swing the clamping frame 44 outwardly so that the table or tray can be swung outwardly on its pivot and caused to rest in an inclined position on the outer end of the lever and also on the bars 3 to support the box at the required inclination to facilitate the orderly arrangement and packing of the fruit in vtiers therein. l/Vhen the box is iilled the tray or table is then swung inwardly and caused to rest squarely on the frame formed by the bars 3-37-38 and brace 41, the lever is moved to a position substantially parallel with the bars 3 so as to close the clamping frame 44 around one end of the box and when the tophas been placed on the box the lever is depressed thereby causing the presser board to be moved downwardly against the tension of its springs and to draw the clamping frames downwardly and cause said frames to engage the box top and press the same firmly down on the fruit, packing the latter in the box and holding the top thereon in position to be nailed or otherwise fastened. By engaging the keeper of the lever with the locking rack the lever may be locked at any desired adjustment to hold the presser board and the clamping frames in the desired clamping position.

Having thus described my invention, l claim 1. A step ladder of the class described comprising an ambulant frame having an elevated platform, a ladder at one end of the frame leading to said platform and a foldable ladder pivotally mounted on the platform and arranged at right angles to the first-named ladder.

2. A ladder of the class described comprising an axle having supporting wheels7 a pair of handle bars attached to the axle, a fixed ladder having its side members secured on said handle bars, a frame on the axle and handle bars, a platform mounted on said frame and arranged above and parallel with the axle and a foldable ladder pivotally mounted on said platform.

3. A ladder of the class described comprising an axle having supporting wheels, a pair of handle bars attached to the axle, a fixed ladder having its side members secured to said handle bars, a frame on the axle and handle bars, a platform mounted on said frame and arranged above and parallel with the axle and a foldable ladder pivotally mounted on said platform, said platform having side boards and end boards and being also provided with running boards at the outer sides of said side boards.

In testimony whereof l allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH PARR.

Witnesses:

G. W. Wmixs,

E. E. MANSFIELD.

Copies of this patent may 'be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

